The name Seymour was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the country in 1066. The ancestors of the Seymour family lived in Monmouthshire. Their name, however, is a reference to St. Maur, near Avranches, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

Seymour Early Origins

The surname Seymour was first found in Monmouthshire. However, records differ on who was the progenitor of the family. One reference claims that Wido de St. Maur came to England in 1066 but was deceased before 1086 and would have therefore not appeared in the Domesday Book. His Son William Fits-Wido held a barony in Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucester and ten manors in Somerset. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X) The other reference claims they were descended from Roger Sancto Maure who lived during the reign of Henry I and was Lord of Seymour Castle. [2]CITATION[CLOSE]Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.

Seymour Spelling Variations

Seymour Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Seymour are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Seymour include St. Maur, Seymour, Seymer, Seymar, Seamor, Seamour, Seemour and many more.

Seymour Early History

Seymour Early History

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Seymour research. Another 209 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1458, 1508, 1537, 1474, 1536, 1547, 1549, 1528, 1593, 1563, 1613, 1599, 1674, 1663, 1646, 1648, 1632, 1708 and are included under the topic Early Seymour History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seymour Early Notables (pre 1700)

Seymour Early Notables (pre 1700)

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Seymor, High Sheriff of Herefordshire in 1458; Jane Seymour (1508-1537), Queen consort of England as the third wife of King Henry VIII; Sir John Seymour, of Wiltshire, KB (c.1474-1536), English gentry, courtier to King Henry VIII, father of the king's wife Jane...

Another 86 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Seymour Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Seymour In Ireland

Seymour In Ireland

Some of the Seymour family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. Another 115 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

The Great Migration

The Great Migration

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Seymour, or a variant listed above:

Seymour Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Seymour, who arrived in Virginia in 1607

Richard Seymour, who arrived in Hartford, Connecticut in 1639 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

William Seymour who settled in Virginia in 1653

George Seymour, who settled in Barbados in 1679

Seymour Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Seymour, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Nathaniel Seymour, who arrived in Virginia in 1724 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

William Seymour, who settled in Maryland in 1725

Edward Seymour, who arrived in Georgia in 1735 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Hendk Seymour, aged 23, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1748 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Seymour Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Seymour, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1822 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Lewis Seymour, who arrived in New York in 1836 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

Thomas Seymour, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1838 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

George Seymour, who landed in Mississippi in 1840 [3]CITATION[CLOSE]Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

George Seymour, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on September 3rd, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia[4]CITATION[CLOSE]State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1820 with 192 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1820

William Seymour, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Rapid" in 1838 [5]CITATION[CLOSE]State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RAPID 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Rapid.gif

Charles Seymour (1885-1963), American academic, President of Yale University from 1937 to 1951

David Seymour (b. 1984), English rugby union player, Member of the EnglandSaxons National Team (2006-)

Frederick Seymour (1820-1869), English colonial administrator, second Governor of the Colony of British Columbia from 1864 to 1866

Jane Seymour OBE (b. 1951), born Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg, English two-time Golden Globe, Emmy Award winning actress, named Officer of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II

Seymour Historic Events

Seymour Historic Events

Mr. William John Henry Seymour, British Band Corporal, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and died during the sinking [8]CITATION[CLOSE]HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html

Suggested Readings for the name Seymour

Suggested Readings for the name Seymour

Puritan Migration to Connecticut: the Saga of the Seymour Family, 1129-1746 by Malcolm Seymour.

Motto

Motto

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Citations

Citations

^The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)

^ Lowe, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.

^ Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)

The Seymour Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Seymour Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.